The next Turismo

[rendang]

  That day was a bit of an endurance test,the other pic has Andy in the background.

[Betty]

I found this gem though.

Clowns!

[mattyvas]

How is it riding the Monster with those little blue legs. 

[Betty]

How is it riding the Monster with those little blue legs. 

Stopping and starting can be a challenge ... but for long days in the 'saddle' it is a good thing to have so much leg room - great for Turismo.

[braando]

Clowns!

Mark, what is that little yellow dangly bit, down you know where.......

[Betty]

Mark, what is that little yellow dangly bit, down you know where.......

I believe it is meant to be a belt buckle ... but it was a long night and occasionally I had some erection issues.

[Betty]

Yeah, yeah so I couldn’t leave it alone … Turismo.

PREAMBLE

Well it had been over 2.5 years since the last of these ‘annual’ events run by Ducati Australia. At the last in February 2010 we were told that it would probably be 18 months until the next to make allowance for a change in season. It was apparently going to be in Queensland … but that was delayed … then it was delayed again when SEQ was flooded. Then they made excuses about giving Queensland a chance to recover … this was just after the Qld Premier was begging for tourism to help get the economy going again.

So it ended up in Canberra … well Canberra to Albury actually.

A few changes were made to the format, such as:
•   One less day
•   Two nights in one location
•   No test rides
•   No show and shine
•   Exclusive Ducati event (i.e. no opportunity to bring a friend, etc)
•   A cut to the cap on participant numbers

Personally I think a lot of this took something away from the event. I didn’t understand the one less day (considering they had us travelling longer daily distances than last time) although the two nights in one place was a good idea cruelled by the weather (kinda fortunate really). No test rides was a bummer  - I was hoping to try something different (no, not a Panigale). Removal of the show and shine event was a major disappointment for Andy (and rightly so) … and the exclusivity and cap I think just served to turn people off.

I have already carried on enough about the cost, the ‘safety’ inspection and the proof of ownership bullshit, the secrecy and the flawed registration procedure as well as the ‘locked in’ accommodation options … but I am always open to venting if you really want me to.

Anyway it is really about the event itself and once you are ‘there’ it is actually a pretty well run thing. Considering we have been pretty poor at organising our own social events of late, it is a good option to have everything organised on your behalf with no arguments about changing days or routes. Actually I was a little surprised there were no more OzMo members interested as it was staged relatively close to the major population centres. It also made it easy for most people to do in a week which was not so easy in Tassie.

[heatherp]

The fewer numbers was good in some respects and not so good in others.  I didn't see the congestion that we had in Tassie. But the group I was in didn't follow the set routes either - we chose our own way.

I noticed a huge improvement in the food.

And it really is all about the people and I don't think that was lacking. I still had a great time.

But I will be thinking long and hard when/if they hold another one. I think my decision will be based on who else will be going.

[Betty]

I was actually looking forward to having fewer people along because I am so introverted and people scare me.

The 'launch' last time was a bit dangerous ... far too many people that are too impatient and couldn't wait for the herd to thin out. But generally it didn't pose too many problems aside from the occasional long wait for petrol or a meal at a remote pub.

[Betty]

DAY 1 – SUNDAY (REGISTRATION)

Originally we were considering taking a circuitous route leaving on Saturday but with a Mariners fixture on Saturday night we chose to take the quick route down on Sunday. Of course it is now part of football history that the mighty Mariners crushed a thoroughly outclassed Sydney FC 7-2 in an entertaining match that ensured we had made the correct decision.

With the bikes loaded up, we were set for an uneventful trip down with a cruise along the Old Road to become acquainted with the additional touring weight. All was good until we turned onto the Federal Highway and the Boss managed to lose a footpeg – great this could make things interesting for the next week!

Interesting how long it takes for you to react, slow down and park when you are travelling at speed … because it was a long walk back to try and find the errant footpeg. Luckily I found it but couldn’t find the bolt which should have been holding it on. We tried pulling various less important bolts off the bike but none would fit – so it was cable ties to the rescue (sort of).

The Boss wasn’t very confident in the cable tie holding any weight so rode most of the way to Canberra (about 75kms) with her leg hanging out to the side … apparently that is rather exhausting.

The guys in the big red truck were kind enough to fit a replacement bolt and refix the footpeg, so disaster was averted. We picked up our run sheet in Canberra, had some new tyres fitted to Trev and gave Andy’s bike a visual once over then it was off to our hotel for a swim.

We caught up with Heather for a little drinkie before we headed off to the special Canberra OzMo social gathering she had organised. OK so it was just the four of us and nobody actually from Canberra but me managed to get some dinner before Canberra shuts down around 8pm.

It didn’t take long for Jukie’s allegies to be triggered by skolling Heather’s last beer … apparently these things shouldn’t go to waste. But the hayfever-like symptoms would soon take control.

Pre-dinner drinks:


The official OzMo social gathering - the Canberra edition:

[heatherp]

So who did win that staring competition between Andy & I?? 

[Betty]

So who did win that staring competition between Andy & I?? 

I think it was Julie 'cause she ended up with your beer.

[Betty]

DAY 2 – MONDAY (LAUNCH … CANBERRA to JINDABYNE)

The launch point was Old Parliament House where all the Ducatis gathered in the forecourt/carpark. It was here that we caught up with G and Rendang joined us. The Victorians had their own riding buddies so all the OzMos would not all be riding together … but it probably works better to ride with those you are familiar with.

After speeches by the CEO and a travelling pollie we were on our way under police escort (escorted to the city limits so to speak). We headed out to Braidwood and then down the Kings Highway to the coast … through Bermagui to Bega and then up the Highway through Cooma to Jindabyne.

No doubt some nice touring roads but for my skill/confidence level I would have preferred to be riding UP the Kings Highway. Those sharp, steep, downhill corners are a little daunting for a first-timer on a laden bike. Once on the flatter ground it was a little more relaxing with the coast run nice and twisty. The trip back up into the mountains was more open and flowing … an appropriate end to the day’s riding.

Over 500kms after all the morning formalities made it a very long day by the time we arrived in Jindy we barely had time to check in and shower before dinner, not even time for a swim. This was a real shame – to pay so much to stay in a resort for only a couple of hours. It would have been nice to stay here a bit longer to enjoy some of the activities on offer perhaps after a shorter loop ride in the morning.

Oh well dinner seemed to be a step up on previous offerings but another late night is probably not what was required.

The Monsters starting to gather:


Ducati taking over Old Parliament House:


Quick stop at Nimmitabel:


Din-dins:

[Betty]

DAY 3 – TUESDAY (JINDABYNE to ALBURY)

Lovely breakfast before we headed off in the morning up through Thredbo and over to Khancoban and a loop out through Walwa and Granya – towards the end of which we encountered a few sprinkles of rain with caution taking the lead through the tight twisties. But this time the hayfever had spread amongst the group making things a bit difficult for some and so, again, we were pretty knackered by the time we checked in at Lake Hume.

With Andy’s newfound riding skills (inspired on his ‘new’ machine) and Rendang’s take-no-prisoners attitude we sort of agreed to re-group at Khancoban … well so Jukie thought. When we arrived there was a large gathering of Ducatis but no Ozmos in sight. Apparently there is more to Khancoban than a servo … you just need to turn-off the road to try and find it. We figured wires were crossed and we continued on, eventually catching up in Corryong. On ‘Cup Day’ it even proved difficult to get something to eat despite Corrying being quite ‘large’ - once a café had sold their dozen seats to the ‘cup lunch’ there was no way they could make another sandwich. Umm, yeah … nice one.

We made another impromptu stop somewhere as a couple of us struggled to see through streaming eyes and visors smeared with a tasty coating of snot spray as it was literally snowing with pollen.

With regard to the precipitation it was one of those situations where you are second guessing everything … do I stop and put on the wet weather gear and risk the rain setting in, try and out-run or leave things to fate. Jukie, as lead, chose a combination of the latter two.

A shorter day but the weather and conditions had taken their toll so a bit of time in the pool and spa was most welcome. Dinner had Andy making some new friends from Brisbane as we got our new run sheet for the last day.

Lovely breaky by the lake:


Andy's mad phone camera skills:


He also caught some of the weird shit that happens up at Dead Horse Gap. Lucky I kept my visor down for protection ... we almost lost Jukie and it obviously triggered Rendang's bodily functions:


Quick stop at Tallangatta:


More din-dins:

[braando]

Keep it coming Mark, it may just get some uninitiated OZMO's interested in future  Turismos